Medieval Dominican Friary, Guildford

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RefNo: 1658

Reference Number: SHHER_1658

Site Name: Medieval Dominican Friary, Guildford

Grid Reference: 499460 149580

Description: Queen Eleanor of Provence, widow of Henry III founded a house of Dominican friars at Guildford, on the east bank of the river, a little to the north of the High Street, at the end of Friary Street, but the exact date of the foundation is not known. The Dominicans were, however, not established in 1274, but in 1275 on 6th March Edward I granted the friars a road leading from Guildford to the royal park opposite, across the river to be enclosed for enlarging their area.

Henry VIII built himself a hunting lodge within the precincts. This and their own house, the Friars claimed (circa 1536) were now decaying, that they had no property, but lived on alms. Later the king retained the priory in his own lands, converting the house into a dwelling as an occasional royal resort. Dissolved 10th October 1538.

The house of the friars, after being leased by the Crown, was partly pulled down in 1606. The site was granted in 1630 in fee simple to the Earl of Annandale, who had a new house built by Inigo Jones. After various alterations, this was changed into barracks in 1794, and pulled down in 1818 (see also HER 2086).

No traces of the Friary now remain, the site is fully built over, for the most part of the Friary Brewery.

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